Burns, O’Hair clubhouse leaders with 3-shot lead at RBC Canadian Open | CBC Sports

Americans Sam Burns and Sean O’Hair were the clubhouse leaders on Thursday in the first round of the RBC Canadian Open.

They were three shots ahead of the pack after 7-under 63 rounds. Burns had two eagles and O’Hair had one to lift them up to the top of the leaderboard.

“I think with all the rain we had early in the week the greens are still pretty receptive,” said Burns after coming off the course at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. “It makes a big difference on par-5s when you have a long iron or a wood coming in there to be able to stop the ball pretty quick.”

McIlroy, third on the FedEx Cup rankings, said he was impressed with all the spectators who were at the 10th tee when the marquee trio teed off at 7:40 a.m.

“The Canadian fans came out to support them,” said McIlroy. “One of the main reasons I love coming back here is because of that atmosphere that’s created when we’re out there to play, and playing with two Canadians today was, it was exactly what I expected.”

Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., won the Canadian Open last year to end a 69-year drought for Canadians at the national men’s golf championship. He finished his day at two over.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., had a 1-under 69 round.

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Mackenzie Hughes is 1 of 28 Canadians in the tournament

Reigning Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., — the highest ranked Canadians on the PGA Tour — are grouped with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy for the event’s first and second rounds.

“I was obviously super excited,” said Pendrith when he learned of the grouping. “Get to play with Nick, defending champion, and Rory, who won (in Hamilton in 2019), so it should be fun.

“Feel bad for my parents who probably won’t be able to watch me play golf, but it’s OK.”

Edmonton’s Wil Bateman, Hamilton’s Michael Blair, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Jared du Toir of Kimberley, B.C., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Cam Kellett of London, Ont., Vancouver’s Jake Lane, Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, Etienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Marc-Olivier Plasse of Mercier, Que., Max Sear of Stouffville, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Canadian golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., round out the pro Canadian contingent.

Amateurs Jacob Cicoyne of Calgary, Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., will also play in the event.